One other comment I had when reading your post: don't forget about
intragenera marketing, which is overly scientific for saying "audi
won't sell two cars under different brands that will compete with each
other unless one has brand loyalty". Rumors have said the Lemans
quattro will not compete with the gallardo, even though it could. Just
as the A3 won't compete with VWs, which have a strong market here. Bad
as it is, it would not be wise on their part to market a hot hatch from
both VW and Audi brands.
Which I think is a shame, but keep in mind the r32 is probably as close
to driving an Audi as you can get. I have trouble keeping passats and
A4/6s separate sometimes. Nowadays it's what will sell more, and has
nothing to do with passion. Cars like the evo and sti seem to
recapture that. I am a little weary of the VW and Mazda counterparts,
as they seem to be trying to capitalize where the other have been for
years. There aren't very many manufacturers left with a passion for
making cars...mostly just a passion for making money.
-Andrew